Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Exercise

Q. I have just been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have been told that exercise might help. Can you please give me some guidelines to follow?

A. There are an estimated half a million Americans with CFS.

Women are more prone than men to developing diseases where the body's immune system fights its own tissue. Diseases that fall into this category include chronic fatigue syndrome, fibro- and polymyalgia, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Talk to your doctor and listen to your body because the amount and types of exercise vary greatly from person to person. The key to a successful exercise program for people with CFS is to pace yourself. Never exercise until you are tired. On the days you feel really fatigued, don't exercise.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health "Get regular exercise (but be careful not to overdo it).  Try to move most days of the week. A gradual and gentle exercise program often works well for people with long-lasting muscle and joint pain. Easy walking, light aerobics, stretching and some types of yoga or tai chi exercises may be helpful.

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